The Convention on the rights of the Child turns 20

The Convention on the rights of the Child represents the most important and most complete international normative tool as far as far as promotion and safeguard of the rights of children are concerned, considering the whole series of the rights and freedoms attributed to the adults (civil, political, social, economic and cultural rights). It represents a binding normative tool for the 191 countries which declared it, beyond offering an organic reference in which all efforts for children´s rights of the last 50 years can be collocated. The Convention, made of 54 articles, was approved by the United Nations in New York on November 20th 1989.

In order to celebrate the twentieth anniversary Editions du Seuil has edited a volume, printed and bound by GECA, entirely devoted to the self-portraits made by the children of the whole world: Syrine, Ibrahim, Malo and all the others bring us to discover a world of white pastels on black boards, alternated with the pictures of the little authors who have used them. The photographer, Gilles Porte, is an adult looking the children from above: “I propose some children to draw themselves. Then I take a picture of each of them […]. In this way I have covered 20 countries”.

The Convention on the rights of the Child is a very beautiful document, also to read. Article 12, for example, says that when adults are about to make a decision on matters involving children, children have the right to say what they think about it and their opinion has to be taken into account. Again, in articles 28 and 29 it is established that all children have the right to a free primary education able to develop at best their personality and talents. Article 31 sanctions the right of every child to relax, to play and to take part into artistic, cultural and recreational activities.

To read a summary of all 54 articles of the Convention click here.

Portraits-Autoportraits
Syrine, Ibrahim, Malo et tous les autres.
Softcover with flaps
Size 17x25,5 portrait – 252 pages
Price: 29 €
ISBN: 978-2-02-100315-4